The prognostic power of MSC persisted after adjusting for tumor stage ( p = 0.02 ) and when the analysis was restricted to LDCT-detected cases after exclusion of interval cancers ( p less than 0.001 ).

The MSC risk level decreased after surgery in 76% of the 25 high-intermediate subjects who remained disease free, whereas in relapsing patients an increase of the MSC risk level was observed at the time of detection of second primary tumor or metastatic progression.